February 25, 2011

Rex Ryan Guarantees Super Bowl Victory: "I believe this is the year we're going to do it. I believe this is the year we're going to win the Super Bowl. The fact is, I thought we'd win it the first two years. I guarantee we'll win it this year." -- New York Jets coach Rex Ryan at the NFL Scouting Combine

Rex seems to be good medicine for the Jets, indeed. He is just one of those guys who will always talk bigger than what he actually accomplishes, but he does have plenty of substance and it seems to me that he's done a lot. Guaranteed Super Bowl? Of course it's nonsense, but unless you just fell off the turnip truck you know that the guy is about 10% helium. I don't think that's such a big deal considering the other 90%.

In the too-careful NFL, it's refreshing for a coach to have absolutely no fear of putting a foot in his mouth.

Foot in mouth? In his first two years, Rex has been two wins away from a championship. That ain't bad, especially with a still evolving young QB and several problematic, if gifted, players. If the Jets were a mediocre team that went one-and-done every year, Rex's boasts would indeed be ridiculous. But he has the Jets right there.

I think my first reaction to Rex Ryan guaranteeing a Super Bowl win was to yawn. It's not news, people. He's said it consistently. I think he said it to the cabbie on the way in from the airport, and to the bellman who took his bags at the hotel.

There's no fear because there's no risk. They don't make it to the super bowl it's no big deal. He'll make another one. These type predictions should have been retired after namath. They're a joke now.

Another reason I find the Ryan prediction to be a non-story is his team is already among the best in the league. Predicting your super bowl quality team will win the super bowl? At least the Jets were beating odds that said they'd be killed.